BRAUNHART MANIA
  • Home
  • Stories
  • Letters from Germany
  • Photos
    • Bernstein Family Photos
    • Braunhart Family Photos
    • Brock Family Photos
    • Brunn Family Photos
    • Fried Family Photos
    • Gandel Family Photos
    • Heyman Family Photos
    • Markheim Family Photos
    • Sternbach Family Photos
    • Tulman Family Photos
    • Gravestone Markers
  • Timeline
  • Remembrance
  • Family Trees
    • Braunhart Tree Generations 1-3
    • Braunhart Tree Generation 4
  • Artifacts
    • Census Records >
      • 1860 US Census
      • 1870 US Census
      • 1880 US Census
      • 1900 US Census
      • 1910 US Census
      • 1920 US Census
      • 1930 US Census
      • 1940 US Census
    • Draft Cards >
      • World War I
      • World War II
    • German Passports
    • Immigration Records
    • Naturalization Records
    • Shanghai Refugees
    • Shoah Records
    • Travel Records - Non Immigration
  • Videos
  • Maps
    • Braunharts in Berlin 1922-1943
    • German and Poland Family Map
  • About
  • Contact

The Will of Samuel Braunhart - 1906

7/19/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
Samuel Braunhart, my 3rd Great Uncle is just about my favorite ancestor. He was a California politician, serving in the State Senate, the Assembly and as a San Francisco City Supervisor.  He was  a commercial traveler by trade (a fancy name for a salesman). He was feisty, opinionated and stood up for the "little" guy, traits that remind me of someone I know better than anyone (me).

As a politician, he started in the sandlots of San Francisco in the late 1870s and served his constituents up until the time of his death a month after the great Earthquake and Fire in 1906.  Apparently his heart did not react well to the stress of that tragic event.

Sam never married and left a will, written in German, on the letterhead of his nephew Jakob, who had emigrated from the family home in Schubin, Germany, through New York City  to San Francisco in the early 1900s.

There are four pages to the will, which are presented below along with the translation from our friend Matthias Steinke, who has so graciously translated all of the family letters, as well as other documents.  Thank you Matthias.

There are three curiosities and one question, which likely will never be answered:

  1. It appears that the children of Alexander Braunhart are listed in birth order.  Moritz was possibly the oldest, but he is the only one of Alexander's children for which we have not found a birth date.
  2. Bernhard, in the middle of the Alexander and Helene Braunhart "brood" is actually Philipp.  It is not known when or why he changed his name.  We have a family photos taken around 1904 where his name is penciled in as "Bernhard".
  3. For Sara Bernstein (Samuel's sister) again there is a birth curiosity.  According to documents, Ernestine was born in 1870, and Max in 1873.  Was Max listed first because he was male?
  4. Who was Kathe Buckley? And what was her relationship with Samuel?  The will is cut off at the bottom of the page.  Maybe we will never know.  There was a Katherine Buckley, born in New York who lived in San Francisco in 1900 (per the Federal census) and she was single and lived about a mile and a half from Samuel.  Girlfriend?  Housekeeper?  We likely will never know that answer.

Here are the images of the will, followed by the English translation:


Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

English Translation:

Samuel Braunhart last will and legacy 

I, Samuel Braunhart in city and district San Francisco, state California make herewith my last will and legacy in following manner:

1. I determine herewith, that the sum of 250 Dollar shall be paid for my funeral costs.

2. I determine herewith, that the sum of 1.000 Dollar shall be paid for the gravestone and other necessary 
belongings of my grave.

3. I determine herewith, that the sum of 500 Dollar shall be paid for the grave of my parents in Schubin, Germany.

4. I determine herewith, that the sum of 500 Dollar shall be paid for the grave of my brother Bernhard Braunhart in San Bernardino, California.

5. I bequeath my brother Alexander Braunhart in Schubin the sum of 2.000 Dollar.

6. I bequeath to each of the children of the above mentioned Alexander Braunhart, who are living at the day of my death the sum which is listed in this will at the same line like their names as follows:

my nephew Moritz Braunhart (the sum of) 500 Dollar
my nephew Jakob Braunhart, 500 Dollar
my niece Martha Braunhart, 500 Dollar
my nephew Julius Braunhart, 500 Dollar
my nephew Karl Braunhart, 500 Dollar
my niece Cylly Braunhart, 500 Dollar
my niece Anna Braunhart, 500 Dollar
my nephew Bernhard Braunhart, 500 Dollar
my niece Selma Braunhart, 500 Dollar
my nephew Theodor Braunhart, 500 Dollar
my niece Frieda Braunhart, 500 Dollar

7. I bequeath my sister Sarah Bernstein in Brooklyn, New York the sum of 2.000 Dollar

8. I bequeath to each child of above named sister Sarah Bernstein who are living at the day of my death the sum which is listed in this will at the same line like their names as follows:

my nephew Max Bernstein, 500 Dollar
my niece Ernestine 500 Dollar
my niece Amalie, 500 Dollar
my niece Caecilie, 500 Dollar
my niece Hedwig, 500 Dollar

9. I bequeath herewith my nephew Harry M. Braunhart the sum of 1.000 Dollar. This sum shall be given to him as he needs it from time to time. [Harry was the son of Samuel's brother Bernhard and was often institutionalized throughout his life]

10. I bequeath herewith Mrs. Kathe Buckley ............
1 Comment
Julie Carter
5/17/2015 09:37:33 am

Just discovered your website. You have inspired me! I am newly retired and hope to return to my interest in genealogy. This could become my outlet. The stories of ancestors drive my interest as you mention in your writing. Holy Cow! I can't wait to dig in!
Julie Carter

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    If you think you might be related, even remotely - email [email protected].
    ​

    Don't be shy!!!

    Search

    Subscribe

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner



    Check out the entire
    Letters from Germany Series

    Check Out
     The Ancestor Hunt
    My family history research info site

    Families

    All
    Asch
    Bernstein
    Braunhart
    Brock
    Brunn
    Eilenberg
    Fried
    Gandel
    Heyman
    Hoorin
    Markheim
    Marks
    Metzner
    Pound
    Rains
    Rudy
    Sternbach
    Tulman
    Weber
    Zadek


    Archives

    November 2019
    July 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    April 2010
    February 2010
    December 2009
    April 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009


    RSS Feed


    Picture

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.